resurrection(复活)-第34章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


administration；〃　he　said；　unable　to　disguise　his　satisfaction。

〃I　have　come　on　business。〃

〃What　is　it？〃　said　Maslennikoff；　in　an　anxious　and　severe　tone；
putting　himself　at　once　on　his　guard。

〃There　is　a　person；　whom　I　am　very　much　interested　in；　in　prison〃
（at　the　word　〃prison〃　Maslennikoff's　face　grew　stern）；　〃and　I
should　like　to　have　an　interview　in　the　office；　and　not　in　the
common　visiting…room。　I　have　been　told　it　depended　on　you。〃

〃Certainly；　mon　cher；〃　said　Maslennikoff；　putting　both　hands　on
Nekhludoff's　knees；　as　if　to　tone　down　his　grandeur；　〃but
remember；　I　am　monarch　only　for　an　hour。〃

〃Then　will　you　give　me　an　order　that　will　enable　me　to　see　her？〃

〃It's　a　woman？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃What　is　she　there　for？〃

〃Poisoning；　but　she　has　been　unjustly　condemned。〃

〃Yes；　there　you　have　it；　your　justice　administered　by　jury；　ils
n'en　font　point　d'autres；〃　he　said；　for　some　unknown　reason；　in
French。　〃I　know　you　do　not　agree　with　me；　but　it　can't　be　helped；
c'est　mon　opinion　bien　arretee；〃　he　added；　giving　utterance　to　an
opinion　he　had　for　the　last　twelve　months　been　reading　in　the
retrograde　Conservative　paper。　〃I　know　you　are　a　Liberal。〃

〃I　don't　know　whether　I　am　a　Liberal　or　something　else；〃
Nekhludoff　said；　smiling；　it　always　surprised　him　to　find　himself
ranked　with　a　political　party　and　called　a　Liberal；　when　he
maintained　that　a　man　should　be　heard　before　he　was　judged；　that
before　being　tried　all　men　were　equal；　that　nobody　at　all　ought
to　be　ill…treated　and　beaten；　but　especially　those　who　had　not
yet　been　condemned　by　law。　〃I　don't　know　whether　I　am　a　Liberal
or　not；　but　I　do　know　that　however　had　the　present　way　of
conducting　a　trial　is；　it　is　better　than　the　old。〃

〃And　whom　have　you　for　an　advocate？〃

〃I　have　spoken　to　Fanarin。〃

〃Dear　me；　Fanarin！〃　said　Meslennikoff；　with　a　grimace；
recollecting　how　this　Fanarin　had　examined　him　as　a　witness　at　a
trial　the　year　before　and　had；　in　the　politest　manner；　held　him
up　to　ridicule　for　half　an　hour。

〃I　should　not　advise　you　to　have　anything　to　do　with　him。
Fanarin　est　un　homme　tare。〃

〃I　have　one　more　request　to　make；〃　said　Nekhludoff；　without
answering　him。　〃There's　a　girl　whom　I　knew　long　ago；　a　teacher；
she　is　a　very　pitiable　little　thing；　and　is　now　also　imprisoned；
and　would　like　to　see　me。　Could　you　give　me　a　permission　to　visit
her？〃

Meslennikoff　bent　his　head　on　one　side　and　considered。

〃She's　a　political　one？〃

〃Yes；　I　have　been　told　so。〃

〃Well；　you　see；　only　relatives　get　permission　to　visit　political
prisoners。　Still；　I'll　give　you　an　open　order。　Je　sais　que　vous
n'abuserez　pas。　What's　the　name　of　your　protegee？　Doukhova？　Elle
est　jolie？〃

〃Hideuse。〃

Maslennikoff　shook　his　head　disapprovingly；　went　up　to　the　table；
and　wrote　on　a　sheet　of　paper；　with　a　printed　heading：　〃The
bearer；　Prince　Dmitri　Ivanovitch　Nekhludoff；　is　to　be　allowed　to
interview　in　the　prison　office　the　meschanka　Maslova；　and　also
the　medical　assistant；　Doukhova；〃　and　he　finished　with　an
elaborate　flourish。

〃Now　you'll　be　able　to　see　what　order　we　have　got　there。　And　it
is　very　difficult　to　keep　order；　it　is　so　crowded；　especially
with　people　condemned　to　exile；　but　I　watch　strictly；　and　love
the　work。　You　will　see　they　are　very　comfortable　and　contented。
But　one　must　know　how　to　deal　with　them。　Only　a　few　days　ago　we
had　a　little　troubleinsubordination；　another　would　have　called
it　mutiny；　and　would　have　made　many　miserable；　but　with　us　it　all
passed　quietly。　We　must　have　solicitude　on　one　hand；　firmness　and
power　on　the　other；〃　and　he　clenched　the　fat；　white；
turquoise…ringed　fist；　which　issued　out　of　the　starched　cuff　of
his　shirt　sleeve；　fastened　with　a　gold　stud。　〃Solicitude　and　firm
power。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know　about　that；〃　said　Nekhludoff。　〃I　went　there
twice；　and　felt　very　much　depressed。〃

〃Do　you　know；　you　ought　to　get　acquainted　with　the　Countess
Passek；〃　continued　Maslennikoff；　growing　talkative。　〃She　has
given　herself　up　entirely　to　this　sort　of　work。　Elle　fait
beaucoup　de　bien。　Thanks　to　herand；　perhaps　I　may　add　without
false　modesty；　to　meeverything　has　been　changed；　changed　in
such　a　way　that　the　former　horrors　no　longer　exist；　and　they　are
really　quite　comfortable　there。　Well；　you'll　see。　There's
Fanarin。　I　do　not　know　him　personally；　besides；　my　social
position　keeps　our　ways　apart；　but　he　is　positively　a　bad　man；
and　besides；　he　takes　the　liberty　of　saying　such　things　in　the
courtsuch　things！〃

〃Well；　thank　you；〃　Nekhludoff　said；　taking　the　paper；　and　without
listening　further　he　bade　good…day　to　his　former　comrade。

〃And　won't　you　go　in　to　see　my　wife？〃

〃No；　pray　excuse　me；　I　have　no　time　now。〃

〃Dear　me；　why　she　will　never　forgive　me；〃　said　Maslennikoff；
accompanying　his　old　acquaintance　down　to　the　first　landing；　as
he　was　in　the　habit　of　doing　to　persons　of　not　the　greatest；　but
the　second　greatest　importance；　with　whom　he　classed　Nekhludoff；
〃now　do　go　in；　if　only　for　a　moment。〃

But　Nekhludoff　remained　firm；　and　while　the　footman　and　the
door…keeper　rushed　to　give　him　his　stick　and　overcoat；　and　opened
the　door；　outside　of　which　there　stood　a　policeman；　Nekhludoff
repeated　that　he　really　could　not　come　in。

〃Well；　then；　on　Thursday；　please。　It　is　her　'at…home。'　I　will
tell　her　you　will　come；〃　shouted　Maslennikoff　from　the　stairs。


CHAPTER　LI。

THE　CELLS。

Nekhludoff　drove　that　day　straight　from　Maslennikoff's　to　the
prison；　and　went　to　the　inspector's　lodging；　which　he　now　knew。
He　was　again　struck　by　the　sounds　of　the　same　piano　of　inferior
quality；　but　this　time　it　was　not　a　rhapsody　that　was　being
played；　but　exercises　by　Clementi；　again　with　the　same　vigour；
distinctness；　and　quickness。　The　servant　with　the　bandaged　eye
said　the　inspector　was　in；　and　showed　Nekhludoff　to　a　small
drawing…room；　in　which　there　stood　a　sofa　and；　in　front　of　it；　a
table；　with　a　large　lamp；　which　stood　on　a　piece　of　crochet　work；
and　the　paper　shade　of　which　was　burnt　on　one　side。　The　chief
inspector　entered；　with　his　usual　sad　and　weary　look。

〃Take　a　seat；　please。　What　is　it　you　want？〃　he　said；　buttoning　up
the　middle　button　of　his　uniform。

〃I　have　just　been　to　the　vice…governor's；　and　got　this　order　from
him。　I　should　like　to　see　the　prisoner　Maslova。〃

〃Markova？〃　asked　the　inspector；　unable　to　bear　distinctly　because
of　the　music。

〃Maslova！〃

〃Well；　yes。〃　The　inspector　got　up　and　went　to　the　door　whence
proceeded　Clementi's　roulades。

〃Mary；　can't　you　stop　just　a　minute？〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　that
showed　that　this　music　was　the　bane　of　his　life。　〃One　can't　hear
a　word。〃

The　piano　was　silent；　but　one　could　hear　the　sound　of　reluctant
steps；　and　some　one　looked　in　at　the　door。

The　inspector　seemed　to　feel　eased　by　the　interval　of　silence；
lit　a　thick　cigarette　of　weak　tobacco；　and　offered　one　to
Nekhludoff。

Nekhludoff　refused。

〃What　I　want　is　to　see　Maslova。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　that　can　be　managed。　Now；　then；　what　do　you　want？〃　he
said；　addressing　a　little　girl　of　five　or　six；　who　came　into　the
room　and　walked　up　to　her　father　with　her　head　turned　towards
Nekhludoff；　and　her　eyes　fixed　on　him。

〃There；　now；　you'll　fall　down；〃　said　the　inspector；　smiling；　as
the　little　girl　ran　up　to　him；　and；　not　looking　where　she　was
going；　caught　her　foot　in　a　little　rug。

〃Well；　then；　if　I　may；　I　shall　go。〃

〃It's　not　very　convenient　to　see　Maslova　to…day；〃　said　the
inspector。

〃How's　that？〃

〃Well；　you　know；　it's　all　your　own　fault；〃　said　the　inspector；
with　a　slight　smile。　〃Prince；　give　her　no　money　into　her　hands。
If　you　like；　give　it　me。　I　will　keep　it　for　her。　You　see；　you
gave　her　some　money　yesterday；　she　got　some　spirits　（it's　an　evil
we　cannot　manage　to　root　out）；　and　to…day　she　is　quite　tipsy；
even　violent。〃

〃Can　this　be　true？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　it　is。　I　have　even　been　obliged　to　have　recourse　to
severe　measures；　and　to　put　her　into　a　separate　cell。　She　is　a
quiet　woman　in　an　ordinary　way。　But　please　do　not　give　her　any
money。　These　people　are　so〃　What　had　happened　the　day　before
came　vividly　back　to　Nekhludoff's　mind；　and　again　he　was　seized
with　fear。

〃And　Doukhova；　a　political　prisoner；　might　I　see　her？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　like；〃　said　the　inspector。　He　embraced　the　little
girl；　who　was　still　looking　at　Nekhludoff；　got　up；　and；　tenderly
motioning　her　aside；　went　into　the　ante…room。　Hardly　had　he　got
into　the　overcoat　which　the　maid　helped　him　to　put　on；　and　before
he　had　reached　the　door；　the　distinct　sounds　of　Clementi's
roulades　again　began。

〃She　entered　the　Conservatoire；　but　there　is　such　disorder　there。
She　has　a　great　gift；〃　said　the　inspector；　as　they　went　down　the
stairs。　〃She　means　to　play　at　concerts。〃

The　inspector　and　Nekhludoff　arrived　at　the　prison。　The　gates
were　instantly　opened　as　they　appeared。　The　jailers；　with　their
fingers　lifted　to　their　caps；　followed　the　inspector　with　their
eyes。　Four　men；　with　their　heads　half　shaved；　who　were　carrying
tubs　filled　with　something；　cringed　when　they　saw　the　inspector。
One　of　them　frowned　angrily；　his　black　eyes　glaring。

〃Of　course　a　talent　like　that　must　be　developed；　it　would　not　do
to　bury　it；　but　in　a　small　lodging；　you　know；　it　is　rather　hard。〃
The　inspector　went　on　with　the　conversation；　taking　no　notice　of
the　prisoners。

〃Who　is　it　you　want　to　see？〃

〃Doukhova。〃

〃Oh；　she's　in　the　tower。　You'll　have　to　wait　a　little；〃　he　said。

〃Might　I　not　meanwhile　see　the　prisoners　Menshoff；　mother　and
son；　who　are　accused　of　incendiarism？〃

〃Oh；　yes。　Cell　No。　21。　Yes；　they　can　be　sent　for。〃

〃But　might　I　not　see　Menshoff　in　his　cell？〃

〃Oh；　you'll　find　the　waiting…room　more　pleasant。〃

〃No。　I　should　prefer　the　cell。　It　is　more　interesting。〃

Well；　you　have　found　something　to　be　interested　in！〃

Here　the　assistant；　a　smartly…dressed　officer；　entered　the　side
door。

〃Here；　see　the　Prince　into　Menshoff's　cell；　No。　21；〃　said　the
inspector　to　his　assistant；　〃and　then　take　him　to　the　office。　And
I'll　go　and　callWhat's　her　name？〃　Vera　Doukhova。〃

The　inspector's　assistant　was　young；　with　dyed　moustaches；　and
diffusing　the　smell　of　eau…de…cologne。　〃This　way；　please；〃　he
said　to　Nekhludoff；　with　a　pleasant　smile。　〃Our　establishment
interests　you？〃

〃Yes；　it　does　interest　me；　and；　besides；　I　look　upon　it　as　a　duty
to　help　a　man　who　I　heard　was　confined　here；　though　innocent。〃

The　assistant　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Yes；　that　may　happen；〃　he　said　quietly；　politely　stepping　aside
to　let　the　visitor　enter；　the　stinking　corridor　first。　〃But　it
also　happens　that　they　lie。　Here　we　are。〃

The　doors　of　the　cells　were　open；　and　some　of　the　prisoners　were
in　the　corridor。　The　assistant　nodded　slightly　to　the　jailers；
and　cast　a　side　glance　at　the　prisoners；　who；　keeping　close　to
the　wall；　crept　back　to　their　cells；　or　stood　like　soldiers；　with
their　arms　at　their　sides；　following　the　official　with　their
eyes。　After　passing　through　one　corridor；　the　assistant　showed
Nekhludoff　into　another　to　the　left；　separated　from　the　first　by
an　iron　door。　This　corridor　was　darker；　and　smelt　even　worse　than
the　first。　The　corridor　had　doors　on　both　sides；　with　little
holes　in　them　about　an　inch　in　diameter